MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos in several parts of Luzon and the Visayas are being urged to remain vigilant as the enhanced Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat, continues to bring heavy rain, while localized thunderstorms add to the risk of flooding and landslides.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the Habagat will continue affecting Luzon and parts of the Visayas, with some areas facing potentially significant to heavy rainfall in the coming days.
The warning comes as saturated soil conditions are raising concern in mountainous areas, particularly in Baguio and Benguet, where authorities are closely monitoring the possibility of rain-induced landslides.
According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), PAGASA Baguio Synoptic Station engineer Larry Esperanza warned that continued rainfall has left mountain slopes and other areas saturated, increasing the danger of landslides, rockfalls and soil collapse. Authorities are urging residents in vulnerable locations to heed pre-emptive evacuation recommendations when necessary.
Heavy rain remains the biggest threat
The latest forecasts indicate that some areas could receive 100 to 200 millimeters of rainfall, while other portions of Luzon may see 50 to 100 millimeters.
PAGASA forecasts cited by Inquirer and Philstar place Zambales, Bataan and Occidental Mindoro among areas that could receive 100 to 200 mm of rain, while Metro Manila and several provinces—including Benguet, La Union, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, Pampanga, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal and Oriental Mindoro—could receive 50 to 100 mm.
That amount of rainfall can quickly overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in communities that have already experienced flooding or where the ground is saturated.
PAGASA has also warned that the Habagat will continue producing rain over parts of the Visayas, while localized thunderstorms remain possible in other areas, including Mindanao.
Baguio and Benguet face a particularly serious situation
The situation is especially concerning in the Cordillera.
PAGASA data cited by PIA showed that Baguio recorded 1,896 millimeters of accumulated rainfall from August 1 to 16, equivalent to an average of 118.5 mm per day.
Rainfall reached 330.6 mm on August 8 and another 262.6 mm on August 9. PAGASA also projected 50 to 100 mm of rain over Benguet, including Baguio, and Abra through Wednesday, with rainfall potentially increasing to 100 to 200 mm through noon Thursday, August 20.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau had identified 633 barangays in the Cordillera as susceptible to rain-induced landslides and flooding as of its August 18 assessment.
Benguet accounted for the largest number at 251 barangays, followed by Abra with 184, Kalinga with 93, Ifugao with 87, Mountain Province with 10 and Apayao with eight.
Neneng is not expected to hit the Philippines
Despite the worsening monsoon rains, PAGASA says Tropical Depression Neneng is not expected to make landfall in the Philippines.
As of early Wednesday, August 19, Neneng was located east of Itbayat, Batanes and was moving northwestward toward Taiwan. PAGASA said no tropical cyclone wind signal had been raised over the country because Neneng was not expected to directly affect the Philippines.
But there is an important catch.
Although Neneng is not directly hitting the country, its circulation is helping pull and strengthen the Habagat, contributing to the continued monsoon rains over Luzon and parts of the Visayas.
PAGASA is also monitoring other weather disturbances, including systems outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility, which could further influence the southwest monsoon.
The rain may not disappear anytime soon
One of the more concerning developments is the possibility that the Habagat could remain active for an extended period.
PAGASA weather specialist Loriedin Galicia told GMA’s Unang Balita that the agency does not expect a significant break from the southwest monsoon during the remainder of August.
That means communities that have already endured repeated rainfall and flooding could remain vulnerable even if there is no direct tropical cyclone landfall.
The recent rains have already caused widespread impacts. Inquirer reported that PAGASA’s Science Garden station in Quezon City recorded 239 mm of rain from 8 a.m. Monday to 8 a.m. Tuesday, with 202 mm falling within just six hours. PAGASA clarified, however, that the rainfall was still below the levels recorded during Tropical Storm Ondoy in 2009.
Authorities urge residents to prepare before conditions worsen
The message from authorities is straightforward: do not wait for flooding or a landslide to begin before taking action.
Residents in flood-prone and landslide-prone areas are advised to monitor official PAGASA and local disaster-management advisories, avoid waterways and unstable slopes, and follow evacuation orders or recommendations from local authorities.
In the Cordillera, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council remains on heightened monitoring, while DSWD-CAR has activated its response mechanisms and prepared relief supplies for affected communities.
For motorists and commuters, sudden downpours can also lead to rapidly rising floodwaters and dangerous road conditions.
The key takeaway is that the Philippines does not need a direct typhoon landfall to experience dangerous weather. The current combination of an enhanced Habagat, saturated ground and localized thunderstorms is enough to create serious flooding and landslide risks.
And with PAGASA warning that the monsoon could remain active through the end of August, residents in vulnerable areas may need to prepare for more wet days ahead.
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